NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's government was embroiled in a dispute on Thursday with a powerful state that plans to free seven people convicted for the 1991 killing of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in political jostling ahead of a general election.
The assassination by a suicide bomber is an emotional issue for India's ruling Congress party, led by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, which is gearing up for an election expected to start in April. Gandhi's widow, Sonia, is Congress' president and their son, Rahul, is leading the party's election campaign.